Amusement device-coin controlled



Odi. 9, 1934. RAY 1,976,373

AMUSEMENT DEVICE COIN CONTROLLED Oct. 9, 1934. l. RAY 1,976,373

AMUSEMENT DEVICE com coNTRoLLED Filed DBC. 26, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet 2Ma/wm y www Patented 'ct. 9*, 19342 UNITED STTES PATENT OFFICE o1,976,378 AMUssMEr-rr nevica-conv CONTROLLED Iver Ray, Blooming.Prairie, Minn.

Application December 26, 1933, Serial No. 703,963

7 Claims. (Cl. M14-7l) My invention relates to amusement devices andparticularly to coin controlled devices for showing a series ofpictures, articles or the like, wherein the pictures are carried by arotatable mem- V,5 ber and rotation of said member is controlled.

, andare susceptible to many kinds of mechanical failure.

An object of my invention is to provide an amusement device which issimple and inexpensive to construct and yet is eiiicient and rugged.

Another object is to provide such an amusement device wherein variousrows of pictures of a series thereof carried by a rotatable member aresuccessively1 brought into view by rotation of said rotatable member andwherein rotation of said member is controlled through a predeterminedcycle.

Still another object is to provide such a device wherein means isprovided to prevent rotation of a rotatable member except following arelease eiecting operation such as ther insertion of a coin and toprevent rotation through more than one revolution following each releaseeffecting operaiton.

Yet another object is to provide a coin controlled operating mechanismfor such an amusement device wherein a deposited coin serves first as anabutment element for actuating a trip lever to release said operatingmechanism to permit rotary movement thereof and then is `cast into acoin receiving receptacle,

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention willmore fully appear from the following description made in connection withthe accompanying drawings, wherein like reference characters refer tothe saine or similar parts throughout the various views, and, in which,

Fig. 1 is a front view of my amu ement device;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional View taken along the line 2-2 of Fig. 1,as indicated by the arrows;

Fig. `3 is a vertical sectional view taken along the line 3 3 of Fig. 1,as indicated by the arrows;

Fig. 4 is a detail view showing on enlarged scale certain of the partsillustrated in Figs; 2 and 8;

Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view taken along the line 5 5 of Fig. 3,as indicated by the arrows, and showing certain parts partially brokenaway;

Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view taken along` the line 6--6 of Fig.5, as indicated by the arrows, and showing certain parts partiallybroken away;

Fig. '7 is a horizontal sectional View taken along the line 7 7 of Fig.5, as indicated by the 00 arrows; and

Fig. 8 is an end view of a picture carrying roll used on the drum of myamusement device. 1

Referring to the drawinga my amusement device is housed in a cabinet Cwhich includes yin its structure a back member 10a, a bottom member 10b,a top member 10c, a side member 10d at the right side, a side member 10eat the left side and a vertical partition 10j. The partition 10j islocated to the left of the center of the cab- 70 inet C so as to dividethe interior of the cabinet into two compartments, the larger ofwhich istoward the right. The top member 10c extends from the rear of thecabinet to a point substantially midway between the front and krearlimits of the cabinet. A rail 10g extends a short distance downwardlyfrom the forwardmost portion of the top member 10c. At the front side ofthe small and large compartments previously described doors 1071. and107' are respectively hinged* ly connected to the lower edge ofthe rail10g and extend downwardly and forwardly therefrom to the forward limitof the cabinet. Doors 10k and 10m, respectively hingedly connected totheside members 10e and 10d and extending vertically f from the lower edgesof the sloping doors 1071. and 10j to the upper side of the bottommember 10b, form the 4front sides of the small and large compartments.VThe doors 10k and 10m are provided with locks 10u and 10p for retainingthem in closed position. Eachof the sloping doors 10h, and i has securedto the lower portion'thereof a plate 10q extending below the lower edgethereof so as to be `engaged by one of the vertical doors 10k and 10m tohold the sloping doors 10h and 107' in closed position when the verticaldoors 10h and 10:1' are in closed position. Also stops 101', secured tothe side and partition members 10d, 10e and 10i, are provided to limitclosing movement of the sloping doors 10h and 10i.

Certain kparts of an amusement device are housed in the larger of thetwo compartments of the cabinet C and a coin controlled release mechafnism included in the amusement device is housed 1,05 in the smallercompartment. An operating shaft 11 extends through both of thecompartmentaas shown, and is journalled in suitable apertures in theside and partition members 10d, 10e and luf.

Attached to the right rhand end of the shaft ex- 110 teriorly of thecabinet C is an operating knob or handwheel 12 for use in rotating theshaft 11.

A drum D, including centrally apertured diskshaped end members 13a,longitudinal brace members 13b connecting the end members 13a and acovering 13e extending between and attached to the end members to formthe peripheral surface of the drum, is mounted on that portion of theshaft 11 which lies within the larger of the two compartments inthecabinet C. -The drum D is retained in a xed position on the shaft 11 bymeans of a set-screw 13d disposed in a screw threaded aperture in a boss13e projecting toward the partition member 13e from the end member 13anearest the partition 13e. A helical compression spring 13j mounted onthe shaft 11 between the drum D and the side member 10d. The covering13e is formed of relatively stiff sheet material and is proportioned toleave a gap adjacent one of the connecting members 13b and is attachedto the end members in such position as to form a lip projecting a shortdistance from said one of the connecting members 13b toward the gap. Apair of arms 14,'connected together at their outer ends by a crossmember 414a disposed in the above mentioned gap, are swingably mountedat their inner ends on the shaft 11. The cross member 14a carries aplate 14D which forms a lip projecting toward the previously describedlip formed by the covering 13e. A spring 14e is connected between thecross member 14a and one of the connecting members 13b as shown so as tourge the lip carried by the cross member 14a toward the lip formed bythe covering 13e.

A exible sheet 15, adapted to be stretched about the drum D, has on itsouter side a series of rows of pictures and at each end has securedthereto a bar 15a. Each-of the bars 15a is cut away to form a lipengaging-groove 15b in cooperation with an end portion of the sheet 15as shown in Fig. 8. The sheet 15 is wrapped about the drum D and isattached thereto by engaging the grooves 15b respectively with the lipsformed by the covering 13o and the plate 14h. The spring 14e acts topull said lips toward each other and hence to retain the exible sheet 15on the drum D under tension.

A viewing window is formed by mounting a transparent plate 16 in aviewing aperture formed in the right hand sloping door ly'. This windowis of such size and shape and is so located that one row of the pictureson the flexible sheet 15 will be visible therethrough at a time and, asthe drum D is rotated, the various rows of pictures on the sheet 15 willsuccessively be visible.

The coin controlled release mechanism included in my amusement device isconstructed as follows:-

, A ratchet 17 is rigidly mounted on the shaft 11 closely adjacent theside member 10e and within the smaller compartment of the cabinet C. Apawl 18, located to engage the ratchet 17, is swingably mounted on theside member 10e and is urged against the ratchet 17 by a at spring 18awhich is also mounted on the side member 10e. The ratchet 17 and pawl 18are arrangedv to freely permit clockwise rotation of the shaft 11 asviewed from the end of the shaft on which the knob 12 is mounted and tolimit counter clockwise rotation.

As best shown in Figs. 3, 5 and 7, a block 19 is rigidly mounted on theshaft 11 approximately intermediate between the side member 10e and thepartition 10f. A dog or arm 20, having an offset portion at its freeend, is swingably mounted on the block 19 by means of a hinge joint 20a.An L-shaped member 21 is secured to the block 19 and a portion thereofoverhangs the arm 20 to limit swinging movement of the arm 20 away fromthe block 19. Adjacent the hinge joint 20a a trip lever or arm 20h isattached to the arm 20 to extend at substantially right angles therefromin a direction away from the block 19. A weight 22 is secured to theblock 19 at the side opposite the side from which the free end of thearml 20 extends. A stop 23 is secured to the partition member 10)c insuch a position as to be engaged by the free end of the arm 20 when theshaft 11 is rotated if the arm 20 is in the position thereof nearest theblock 19.

A vertically disposed open topped coin receiving chute 24 is rigidlysecured to and extends downwardly from the top member 10c approximatelyabove the shaft 11 and in such position that the lower portion ,of thechute obstructs the path in which the outer portion of the trip arm 2Gbtravels when the shaft 11 is rotated. The top member 10c is providedwith an aperture directly' above the top of the coin chute 24 throughwhich coins may be dropped into the chute. The lower end of the coinchute is partially closed to prevent coins from dropping out of thebottom of the chute. The lower portions of the front and back sides andthe bottom of the chute are cut away in parts to form a notch 24a.through which the outer end of the trip arm 2Gb may pass. The rear sideportion 24h of the coin chute 24 is formed as a piece separate from theremaining parts of the chute and is connected at its upper end to thechute structure so as to be rearwardly swingable away from the mainportion of the chute. An L-shaped flat spring 24e is provided tonormally maintain the swingable rear portion 24h in position to closethe rear of the chute 24.

Operation Figures 3, 5 and 7 show the coin controlled mechanism in itsinitial or starting position. If an attempt is made to cause rotation ofthe shaft in reverse direction from this or any other position theratchet 17 and pawl 18 will prevent such rotation or at least limit itto rotation through only a slight angle. If an attempt is made to causeforward rotation from the initial position when no coin is situated inthe coin chute 24, such rotation will be arrested when the dog or arm 20strikes the stop 23. If the knob 12 is then released, the eccentricallylocated weight 22 will cause reverse rotation of the shaft 11 back toits initial or starting position at which time the pawl 18 will strikeone of the teeth of the ratchet 17 and prevent further reverse rotation.

If a coin, such as the coin 25, is disposed in the lower portion of thechute 24, the same will obstruct or block the notch 24a through whichthe outer end portion of the trip arm 20D would otherwise be free topass. If forward rotation is started the outer end portion of the triparm 20h will strike and be restrained from moving throughY the notch24a. by the coin 25. Continued rotation will result in the trip arm 20hbeing so tilted with respect to the block 19 that the dog or arm 20 willbe swung away from the block 19 and the free end portion of the arm 20will assume a position wherein it will fail to strike the stop 23 andhence will permit continued rotation of the shaft 11. The spring 24e isof suiiicient strength to maintain the rear portion 24h in normalposition throughout the above described part lil oi' the operation of mydevice but when rotation of the shaft 11 has proceeded to a point wherethe dog has passed the stop 23, the medial portion of the dog 20 strikesthe L-shaped member and thus prevents further swinging movement of thedog 2O and the trip arm 20h with respect to the block 19. With furtherrotation of the shaft 1l, the outer portion of the trip arm 20h forcesrearward movement'of the coin 25 and the rear portion 24h of the chute24 against the pressure of the spring 24o. As the rear portion 24h movesrearwardly it also moves upwardly and is withdrawn from between theVcoin 25 and the trip arm 20h whereupon the coin 25 is dropped into thelower portion of the cabinet C which serves as a coin receivingreceptacle. The shaft 11 and the picture carrying drum D are free forone revolution of forward rotation.v As the one revolution of rotationnears termination, gravity will cause the dog 20 to drop against theblock 19 so as to be in position to strike the stop 23 and just aftercompletion of one revolution the dog 20 will strike the stop 23 toprevent further rotation. If the knob 12 is then released the shaft llwill be reversely rotated through a slight angle by the weight 22, aswas previously described, to again assume its initial or startingposition ready for a repetition of the operating cycle described above.

As the shaft 11 and the drum D mounted thereon are rotated it is obviousthat the rows of pictureson the exible sheet l5 carried by the drum Dwill be successively visible through the trans- T angle, a portion atthe free end of Said arm being parent rplate 16.

It isobvious that a number of similar sheets l5 each having thereon adierent group of pictures may be provided and that one of these sheetsmay be readily removed from the drum D and another may be placed on thedrum in substitution for the first sheet.

l't is to be understood that my coin controlled mechanism is readilyadapted for use in many types of amusement devices other than the typedisclosed, in many types of Vending or dispensing machines and in otherdevices wherein coin controlled operating means are employed.

it is apparent that I have invented a novel, simple, inexpensive, ruggedand eiiicient form of coin controlled amusement device.

It will, of course, be 'understood that various changes may be made inthe form, details, arrangement and proportions of the various partswithout departing from the scope of the present invention.

What is claimed iszl. In coin controlled apparatus, any operating shaftfor said apparatus, means for rotating said shaft, an arm swingablymounted on said shaft for swinging movement relative to said shaft ink aplane normal to said shaft through a limited offset to project a shortdistance in a direction parallel to the axis of said shaft and said armbeing so arranged that swinging thereof will vary h the distance betweensaid odset portion and the *"axis of said shaft, a stationary stopsituated so as to bein the path of said offset portion as said shaft isrotated when said arm is at one limit of its swinging movement relativeto said shaft v and out of the path of said offset portion when said armis at the other limit of relative movement, a trip lever rigidly securedto said arm and extending outwardly therefrom at an angle thereto andcoin receiving means arranged to hold a received coin in position to bestruck by said trip lever as rotation of said shaft is started wherebysaid trip lever and said arm are sofswung that the offset portion ofsaid arm will not strike said stop and said shaft will be free forfurther rotation.

2. In coin controlled apparatus, an operating shaft for said apparatus,means for turning said shaft through successive cycles of one revolutionf each, releasable means associated withsaid shaft said shaft is rotatedforwardly from its initial position through a slight angle, said triparm will be restrained by said coin from rotation with said shaft andwill be swung relative to said shaft to release said releasable means topermit further rotation of said shaft to complete one revolution thereofand thereby return the same to its initial position.

3. In coin controlled apparatus, an operating shaft for said apparatus,releasable means associated with said shaft for preventing rotationthereof, said means including a trip arm carried' by said shaft forreleasing said means to permit rotation of said shaft, a coin receivingchute having means preventing `exit of fa coin therefromA through thelower end thereof,` the lower end of said chute being located in thepath of said trip arm but being notched to permit passage of said triparm therethrough, the rear side of said chute being swingably mountedfor rearward movement, yieldable means for normally maintaining saidrear side in position to close the rear of said chute wherebya coindisposed in the lower portion of said chute will prevent passage of saidtrip arm through said notch when rotation of said shaft is begun andwill cause swinging of said trip arm relative to said shaft to releasesaid rotation preventing means.

4. In coin controlled apparatus, an operating shaft for said apparatus,a dog mounted on said shaft for swinging movement through a limitedangle relative to said shaft in a plane normal to said shaft, astationary stop element for engaging said dog when ythe same is at onelimit of said relative movement toprevent rotation of said shaft, an armrigidly attached to said dog and disposed at an angle thereto, a coinreceiving chute having means for preventing a coin from falling out ofthe lower end thereof, the lower end of said chute being located in thepath of the free end of said arm and being notched to permit passage ofsaid free end through said notch, the rear side of said chute beingswingably mounted for outward movement,` yieldable means for retainingsaid rear side in its normal position and means restraining said shaftfrom reverse rotation whereby engagement of said dog with said stop willnormally prevent appreciable forward rotation of said shaft beyond apredetermined position and a coin disposed in the lower portion of saidchute will close said notch` and be struck by the free end of said armwhen forward rotation of said arm is begun resulting in said arm andsaid dog being swung to a position wherein said dog will not strike saidstop as rotation of said shaft is continued.

5. In coin controlled apparatus, an operating shaft for said apparatusadapted for forward rotation from an initial position through apredetermined cycle, means for rotating said shaft, a trip arm mountedon said shaft in swingable relation thereto, said arm having one portionadapted for engaging stop means and a second portion adapted forengaging a coin, stop means arranged to normally be engaged by saidfirst portion when said shaft has been rotated forwardly through a smallpart of said cycle to prevent further forward rotation of said shaft,and coin receiving means arranged to hold a received coin in the path ofsaid second portion so that said second portion will strike said coinduring rotation of said shaft through said small part of its Vcycle andsaid trip arm will be restrained by said coin from rotation with saidshaft so as to swing relative to said shaft to avoid said stop means andpermit said shaft to rotate through its complete cycle.

6. In mechanism for controlling predetermined rotation of a picture orindicia carrying drum, a revoluble operating element on which said drumis mounted, releasable means associated with said element for preventingrotation thereof, said means including a swingable trip arm carried bysaid element for releasing said means to permit rotation of saidelement, a coin receiving member having means preventing exit of a cointherefrom through the lower end thereof, the lower portion of saidmember being located in the path of said trip arm but being notched topermit passage of said trip arm therethrough, the rear side of saidmember being mounted to resistingly permit rearward movement thereofwhereby a coin disposed within said member willprevent passage of saidtrip arm through said notch when rotation of said element is started andwill thereby cause swinging of said trip arm relative to said element torelease said rotation preventing means 7. In mechanism for controllingpredetermined rotation of a picture or indicia carrying drum, arevoluble operating element on which said drum is mounted, releasablemeans associated with said element for preventing rotation thereof, saidmeans including a trip arm mounted on said element for swinging movementrelative thereto between limits and arranged for releasing said means.to permit rotation of said element, a coin receiving member havingmeans preventing exit of a coin therefrom through the lower end thereof,the lower portion of said member being in the path of said trip arm butbeing notched to permit passage of Vsaid. trip arm therethrough, therear side of said member being mounted to resistingly permit rearwardmovement thereof whereby a coin disposed within said member will preventpassage of said trip arm through said notch when rotation of saidelement is started and will thereby cause swinging of said trip armrelative to said element to release said rotation preventing means andwhereby said arm when the same has been swung to one of its limitsrelative to said element, will rotate with said element to force therear side of said coin receiving member rearwardly and eject said coinfrom said coin receiving member.

IVER RAY.

